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What is the best way to learn Japanese ?

and in the dvd it says to write in the book and mark it up with non bleedable markers and to stick post it notes of the spanish word of an item for example for my Computer Monitor I would put a post it with the spanish translation of " Monitor de ordenador".

Is there any programs like this for Japanese. I know the company has a Japanese video but that's it. I'm not advertising this I'm just asking if there are any programs similiar to this for Japanese.

Last edited by destiny4ever; August 23, 2010 at 12:39 PM.
Reason: changed prefix.

Re: What is the best way to learn Japanese ?

hm, there are some books on sale from the internet that you could buy that could help you to learn Japanese on your own (tough way)
another way is a site that i have, unfortunately the homepage is on Greek, but i have already checked it and it can find links in English. i could try giving you some links, it's not a problem. the thing is if you would want that ^^
for example: http://japanese.about.com/blbasic.htm
*This Web site provides thirty-six basic Japanese lessons. The lessons are based on situations that people come across in daily life including introducing people, at the post office, at the restaurant, and asking directions.*

or so it says ^^
there are many more sites like this one, better or worse, if this one isn't enough or not satisfying for you, feel free to ask me anytime

Last edited by ILUVATAR; August 21, 2008 at 04:13 AM.

*When you laugh, it's as though the world becomes, just a little, a nicer place.
*Being alone is scary. Solitude is scary.
*I have rushed here, when i was summoned. Because you were crying. You were sobbing as if you were screaming.
*The nights that morning will never come doesn't exist.
*More than anyone could ever admire you, this is the definite truth, I like you...
*Because you are like the sky, causing me pain in love... because I love you.
*Did you hear? Did i reach you?

Re: What is the best way to learn Japanese ?

the easiest way, at least for me, is just plain old raw memorizing power(expecially for those darned kanji..) and conversing with skilled people like my sensei and those japanese guys at the ramen shop near our house..

Re: What is the best way to learn Japanese ?

Then, of course, the hard part, kanji. You'll probably never remember every kanji, but that's okay. That's what a dictionary is for - and anyway, it'd be hard for you to remember and know every word in your own native language too, so it's not a big deal.

That's how I started memorizing kanji. Write them down on a notecard and carry it around with you, try to remember what they are. It's pretty much constant studying and training your mind to recognize each symbol.

Start with basic words that you would use often. Start by categorizing the symbols - for instance, colors, actions (run, walk, jump), elements (fire, water, earth), directions (north, west, east, south), etc. Line them up and memorize each row of kanji.

After a while though, the good news is that you start to see repeating patterns that will help you remember what words they stand for.

And then, if you like manga, I definitely recommend downloading the RAWs and reading them in Japanese. After a while you can even translate what's being said in your mind - if not translate them into another language exactly (that takes yet more time.)

Be warned though, never use manga as an example as to how you should talk to somebody in normal conversation. It's very different and informal. There are plenty of 'Common Japanese Phrases in Conversation' websites you can check for that, though.

Re: What is the best way to learn Japanese ?

I just started to (try to) learn all by myself. I'm beginning with kana writing, and my strategy, for now, is making lines of every one of them (boring, yet that's the way I learned my own alphabet).

I can say that anime helps a lot on the listening skills. Try to listen while reading subs, and by repetition you'll start to recognize words by association. Also (and maybe it's not a good idea after all), isolate as much as possible from your native / usual language, like listening lots of J-pop or watching lots of anime. I've noticed my hearing kind of adapts to the japanese speech and pronounciation, and makes easier hearing some words.

@dj_fujon: I'll contact you one of these days, when I start to go crazy with it :-)

Re: What is the best way to learn Japanese ?

Lazy man's way:

Just keep watching Japanese shows, learn the basic alphabets for Japanese (hiragana and katakana), memorize kanji and word meanings (hardest part), then after attaining a sufficient amount of learning, go look for a conversation-practice teacher. It's up to you if you want to learn how to write in Japanese though (as that's a whole different lesson).

Re: What is the best way to learn Japanese ?

Yup, I agree with kimizzle. Of course you need to learn/memorize/etc at first, but at the end of the day, the one thing that will make a difference is the practical application, in which verbal application is the best way to do so.

How many years we speak our native languages before we can speak it without thinking? I mean, we don't have to think what words to use, we just have to think about what to say. It's the same here. With practical experience, it'll be a lot better.